Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:
- That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
- We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
- On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.
By learning about Cranston (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.
As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Cranston. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.
Neighboring Counties ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived: their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Cranston is located in Muscatine County.
To see how the shape of Iowa's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Muscatine County: Cedar, Johnson, Louisa, Scott & Rock Island (IL).
Below are the counties that are near Cranston. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Cranston:
- Muscatine County (The home county of Cranston)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cranston, with the one closest to Cranston listed first.
- Conesville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Conesville is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 427 people
- Fruitland
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Fruitland is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 966 people
- Nichols
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Nichols is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nichols
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- Muscatine
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- West Liberty
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Atalissa
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Moscow
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Moscow is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Fairport
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Fairport is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairport
- South Towne Park
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- South Towne Park is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Towne Park
- Wilton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Mills ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Pine Mills is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mills
- Midway Beach
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Midway Beach is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway Beach
- Cedar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cranston, with the one closest to Cranston listed first.
- Downey
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Downey is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downey
- Centerdale
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Centerdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerdale
- Springdale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Springdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- West Branch
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Lime City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lime City is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lime City
- Former names for Lime City:
- Lime Kilns
- Munn
- Rochester
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Rochester is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochester
- Cedar Valley
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Cedar Valley is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Valley
- Buchanan
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Buchanan is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buchanan
- Sunbury
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sunbury is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbury
- Tipton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Cedar Bluff
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Cedar Bluff is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bluff
- Bennett
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bennett is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 373 people
- Des Moines County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cranston, with the one closest to Cranston listed first.
- Yarmouth
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Mediapolis
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Sperry
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Sperry is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sperry
- Dodgeville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Dodgeville is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodgeville
- Kingston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Kingston is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cranston, with the one closest to Cranston listed first.
- Winfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Olds
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Olds is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olds
- Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
- Mount Union
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Mount Union is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Union
- Estimated population in 2017: 107 people
- Swedesburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Swedesburg is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swedesburg
- Wayland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cranston, with the one closest to Cranston listed first.
- Lone Tree
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- River Junction
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- River Junction is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Junction
- Hills
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Midway ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Midway is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Oasis
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Oasis is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oasis
- Iowa City
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- University Heights
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- University Heights is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,025 people
- Elmira
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Elmira is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmira
- Morse
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Morse is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morse
- Frytown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Frytown is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frytown
- Williamstown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Williamstown is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamstown
- Coralville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Louisa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cranston, with the one closest to Cranston listed first.
- Letts
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Fredonia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fredonia is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Grandview
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Grandview is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 519 people
- Columbus Junction
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Gladwin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Gladwin is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladwin
- Columbus City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Columbus City is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 371 people
- Cotter
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cotter is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Wapello
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Wapello is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wapello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,999 people
- Wyman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wyman is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyman
- Morning Sun
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Elrick Junction
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Elrick Junction is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrick Junction
- Oakville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cranston, with the one closest to Cranston listed first.
- Durant
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Buffalo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Blue Grass
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Walcott
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- New Liberty
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- New Liberty is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Liberty
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cranston, with the one closest to Cranston listed first.
- Ainsworth
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Riverside
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Crawfordsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Havre
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Havre is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Havre
- Washington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Kalona
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Coppock
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Coppock is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coppock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 48 people
- West Chester
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- West Chester is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Chester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
- Wellman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Henderson County (IL)
- Milroy
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Milroy is located in Henderson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
- Mercer County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cranston, with the one closest to Cranston listed first.
- Eliza
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Eliza is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eliza
- Petersville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Petersville is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersville
- Mannon
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Mannon is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mannon
- New Boston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Joy
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Joy is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 377 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Joy <1>
- Marston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Marston is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marston
- Keithsburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Aledo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Seaton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Island County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cranston, with the one closest to Cranston listed first.
- Illinois City
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Illinois City is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinois City
- Buffalo Prairie
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Edgington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Edgington is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgington
- Andalusia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Reynolds
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Taylor Ridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Cranston, see our County-by-County Page for Cranston.
Cemeteries Near Cranston ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Cranston.
This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.
Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Cranston - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Cranston covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Cranston, with the one closest to Cranston listed first.
- Cranston Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Teeters Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Edgington Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Schmeltzer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lettsville Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Kiser Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Ardon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Estle Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Brockway Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wagner Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (359 more) ...
- Houtz Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Brockway Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Conesville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
Nearby Communities in 1895 ...
We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<2>
While we didn't find Cranston in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Cranston.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Cranston, with the one closest to Cranston listed first.
- Letts
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Conesville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Conesville is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 427 people
- Port Allen ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Port Allen is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Allen
- Fredonia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fredonia is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Nichols
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Nichols is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nichols
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- Fruitland
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Fruitland is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 966 people
- Columbus Junction
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Grandview
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Grandview is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 519 people
- Bard
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Bard is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bard
- Columbus City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Columbus City is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 371 people
- Muscatine
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Lone Tree
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Cotter
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cotter is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- West Liberty
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Cairo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Cairo is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cairo
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Cranston. See our List of 1890's Communities around Cranston.
Newspapers Published in Cranston ...
An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).
To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.
Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 131 newspapers that have been published in the area around Cranston.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Cranston, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Cranston.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.
To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Cranston:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Muscatine County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cedar County
- Des Moines County
- Henry County
- Johnson County
- Louisa County
- Scott County
- Washington County
- Henderson County
- Mercer County
- Rock Island County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Iowa
Footnotes ...
| <1> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <2> | We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Cranston, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Cranston) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |